PAUL & MAGGIE MURDAUGH: South Carolina vs. Alex Murdaugh for Double Homicide of wife & son *GUILTY*

This case is being kept pretty quiet, no major details released to speak of (other than it does say there were two different guns used), but no info regarding who found them, who called 911, very little else.

Of interest, the grandfather died just a few days after these murders and it sounds as if he was ill from various articles so probably not unexpected. I think of the typical motives, did grandpa have a big estate? How big in the overall family of grandpa's on down? They sound like a pretty well known family and a powerful one in their state, more on that in the article.

Questions abound in SC Murdaugh killing. Among them: Should prosecutor step aside?

Several days after two members of a prominent Hampton County family were fatally shot, questions about what happened still vastly outnumber answers.

www.postandcourier.com

 

[Tresir]

I don't think it is quite that cut and dried.

And whether she found or made up the post is a big factor.

And it doesn't explain why there happened to be an apology post, what are the odds that a similar or almost matching name made one for something? So either that one which was actually seen was crafted by the clerk or a "friend" or there was something to it all.

I would state just for the record that clerks and judges, etc. CAN follow things online, nothing against it.

It needs to be known what else if anything was found when questioning the egg jury by the judge AND what if any other issues there were regarding her during the course of the trial.

I am starting to reverse something in my head versus what the defense wants us to believe... WHAT if she was he defense's Ace in the Hole and it was becoming suspected by the other jurors...? Maybe there was another reason the defense was not ready for trial than they thought the State would never be ready on time and counted on it... Maybe they knew they had their "ringer"... Poot was way too relaxed for who he is during that trial... I think it bears keeping in mind who Alex and his attorney are and what they are capable of...

This is just starting to form for me as I wake up more and I will leave it there. to be pondered... The hardest thing sometimes and something I forget is we all have to remember we are seeing what they want us to see and one has to look at the why and what is NOT being said as they craft something all go for or latch onto to turn the focus and direction...

Right now I find myself wanting to know how this egg juror acted throughout with the other jurors etc.

The egg lady juror behaviour doesn't make any difference to the final deliberations really, as she was out of it before the defence closing arguments. However, she may have influenced the other two holdouts but once she was gone, those two changed/made their decision so it was a quick decision in the end.

I don't see any evidence of her being a "ringer".

The controversy and book deal does make me wonder if the clerk searched for detail on all the 3 holdout jurors though.

 

[Tresir]

man I have to get read for work but again WORTH watching. now they are saying no way did Poot and Griff go on dirt roads and were the first to knock on juror's doors as they claim, they would send an investigator first because they don't want to be called as a witness in their own sh*t... Hmmm. The three are lawyers and ONE is in the Murdaugh cases, stuff, on victims' side and they are well versed on the laws and ways of things.

This would be the junior lawyers jobs doing this leg work, pretty sure the trial lawyers wouldn't do this.

 

[Tresir]

There was a mistake in the sentencing for Fleming. He will serve 10 years not 20. It's clearly his lucky day.

Fleming sentenced to 10 years in state prison; Murdaugh financial crimes trial date set

Alex Murdaugh and two of his alleged co-conspirators got a day in court - and one received a major state prison sentence atop a federal sentence.

www.greenvilleonline.com

Fleming sentenced to 10 years in state prison; Murdaugh financial crimes trial date set​

---

​

MICHAEL M. DEWITT, JR. Greenville News


Clarification: The S.C. Attorney General's Office, and state prosecutors, originally reported to The Hampton County Guardian/Greenville News and other media outlets that Cory Fleming was sentenced to 20 years. However, the AG's Office has now clarified Judge Clifton Newman's sentence order, which is for only ten years total time in state prison.
Weeping, standing shackled before a state circuit court judge in blue and gray striped prison garb and facing up to a theoretical 195 years in prison and $8 million in fines, dishonored Beaufort attorney Cory H. Fleming pleaded for leniency.
But Judge Clifton Newman, who is presiding over all of the S.C. State Grand Jury cases involving convicted family murderer and confessed fraudster Alex Murdaugh and his tight ring of co-conspirators, was not sympathetic.
"I believe in justice and mercy," said Newman. "Leniency is not my responsibility."
Newman, who had presided over Murdaugh's six-week double murder trial in Walterboro and dispended double life sentences, held court once more Thursday — this time in Beaufort County — and all of the key players were in the same hall of justice at once: Fleming, Murdaugh, and former banker Russell Laffitte.

Cory Fleming stands for sentencing with his attorney Deborah Barbier.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL M. DEWITT, JR.

After federal prison sentence, Cory Fleming sentenced in state court​

For all of Fleming's state grand jury crimes, which he pleaded guilty to after copping a plea to similar federal charges, Newman sentenced him to a total of 10 years in state prison, to be served consecutively after he completes the nearly four years of federal prison time he is currently serving.
This means that after his 46 months in Federal Correctional Institute Jesup in Georgia, Fleming must then serve 10 years in an S.C. state prison, with parole or time off likely for good behavior. Several of his crimes carry a mandatory 85-percent clause, which means he must serve at least 85 percent of that ten years, or 8.5 years, before he can be eligible for early release.
For the multiple crimes of stealing from the family and estate of Gloria Satterfield, along with Murdaugh, Fleming was sentenced to ten years, to be served concurrently with the federal sentence.
For the multiple crimes of stealing, along with Murdaugh, from the family and estate of Hakeem Pinckney, a deaf quadriplegic who later died after a horrific car crash, Fleming was sentenced to another ten years, to be served consecutively after his first state sentence.
"Until I came down to the 14th Judicial Circuit, I had never sentenced a lawyer," said Newman, calling Fleming and Murdaugh's crimes "unprecedented" and "unimaginable."
Newman handed down his sentence after hearing from a courtroom packed with Fleming's family, friends and supporters.
"Everyone was here to tell me about the good, but we are here to deal with the bad, and this is as bad as it gets for a lawyer," said Newman. "This isn't about the good that Cory Fleming has done over time, but what this Cory Fleming has done."
Newman said he would defer discussing the amount of restitution Fleming must pay to these victims until a later date, as the Sept. 14 hearing took most of a day.

 

[Tresir]

I have been looking for details of Smith and Lafitte's trial details and finally came across this article from 6 months ago that mentions that Lafitte changed his lawyers after the federal conviction and this confirms that his new lawyer is the House minority Democrat leader J. Todd Rutherford. This also mentions that Smith's trial will be continued and dealt with after the trials of the other conspirators. This is why I haven't found anything for Smith so far.

Alleged Murdaugh conspirators appear in court, prosecutors push for trials

Five men who the state says are involved in crimes tied to Alex Murdaugh are facing charges across Lowcountry counties.

www.live5news.com

 

[Tresir]

Alex Murdaugh pleads guilty to federal charges.

Murdaugh pleads guilty to federal financial crimes but may face lie detector test

The former lawyer, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his wife and younger son, must also pay back the $9 million that prosecutors accused him of stealing.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Tresir]

I think we knew this but this article confirms the clerk hired lawyers earlier this month.

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article279029214.html#storylink=topic_Crime&Courts

 

[Tresir]

Lafitte received an extension to his date to report to federal prison by one week from 21st till 28th Sept. He is awaiting a response to an appeal against his sentence.

Murdaugh accomplice Laffitte given one week extension to report to federal prison

Laffitte, convicted last November by a federal jury in Charleston, is hoping the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals will grant him a longer extension as it considers an appeal of his conviction.

news.yahoo.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

Lafitte received an extension to his date to report to federal prison by one week from 21st till 28th Sept. He is awaiting a response to an appeal against his sentence.

Murdaugh accomplice Laffitte given one week extension to report to federal prison

Laffitte, convicted last November by a federal jury in Charleston, is hoping the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals will grant him a longer extension as it considers an appeal of his conviction.

news.yahoo.com

Well isn't that sweet. Most would receive no such "courtesy".

These men, Alex included, just can't seem to believe they belong in prison and aren't special. On the other hand maybe they are special to receive this consideration and honestly, these sentences weren't very long on the face of it considering they were facing decades and even 100+ years in prison wasn't it?

 

[Tresir]

Well isn't that sweet. Most would receive no such "courtesy".

These men, Alex included, just can't seem to believe they belong in prison and aren't special. On the other hand maybe they are special to receive this consideration and honestly, these sentences weren't very long on the face of it considering they were facing decades and even 100+ years in prison wasn't it?

I just knew you would love that. What's the point of being privileged if there aren't any benefits?

 

[Tresir]

Not sure if we knew about this. It is from June and explains that Alex has been indicted for non payment of $132k taxes on earnings of $2million. You can listen or read.

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article274705821.html

 

[Tresir]

I found out by seeing an obit. The lady who worked at his firm and discovered Murdaugh's financial fraud was not Lafitte's sister in law but was Lafitte's wife's sister in law - ie she is married to his wife's brother.

An article that shows her testimony about when she confronted Murdaugh.

Russell Laffitte's sister-in-law testifies Alex Murdaugh investigation revealed bank's role

Two family members of former Hampton County banker Russell Laffitte testified Nov. 9 they never suspected their relative could have played a role in Alex Murdaugh’s efforts to steal from

www.postandcourier.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

I just knew you would love that. What's the point of being privileged if there aren't any benefits?

Yeah lol my opinions on some things or what they will be I'd venture aren't too hard to guess

While there was every reason to charge these men federally a part of me can't quit wondering if it was wanted and done for them in an attempt to spend their time in the federal pen since even though fighting going away at all, they likely knew with how big this is and how bad their crimes were they weren't going to go free although Lafitte sure keeps trying.

There isn't a part of me that doesn't think connections to those with power or influence, etc. isn't still going on or attempted behind the scenes. Of course all would have to be pretty careful now because even though it may have been more blatantly done with no fear of consequences a few years back, all connected here or to Alex has become so public, they don't dare just let them off or not sentence at least somewhat so let's just get them in the fed pen first and work from there...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Not sure if we knew about this. It is from June and explains that Alex has been indicted for non payment of $132k taxes on earnings of $2million. You can listen or read.

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article274705821.html

I knew he had not paid taxes and for maybe more years than one, etc.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I found out by seeing an obit. The lady who worked at his firm and discovered Murdaugh's financial fraud was not Lafitte's sister in law but was Lafitte's wife's sister in law - ie she is married to his wife's brother.

An article that shows her testimony about when she confronted Murdaugh.

Russell Laffitte's sister-in-law testifies Alex Murdaugh investigation revealed bank's role

Two family members of former Hampton County banker Russell Laffitte testified Nov. 9 they never suspected their relative could have played a role in Alex Murdaugh’s efforts to steal from

www.postandcourier.com

I still am not sold on this firm never having a clue or not being "okay" with some things or even some involved or turning a blind eye, UNTIL attention started to rain down and he STARTED to become a possible worry as did attention on the family etc. and imo that would have started with the Beach matter at least.

And he had for some time been doing these cases and rigging juries, etc. and all sorts of things that involved the local banker, another attorney and more, not hard to wonder about his own firm. They were and are attempting to cut clean from Alex and HAD to imo.

I watched her testify. And from all heard and testimony she is very good at what she does. Yet it took an assistant to first raise an alarm. Someone who didn't turn a blind eye but explored it more.

I don't know...

What one can say is they now did the right thing and testified against him... They made some people whole repaying his damage but then again you would if you don't want to go down as well. I just don't think its impossible to believe they knew of a lot of AM's practices such as fixing juries, judges and more.

 

[Tresir]

Well it is a coincidence that Alex heard his father was going into a hospice that day in a phone call, while she was actually confronting him at work with the evidence. Then, that evening, Maggie and Paul were shot and he visited his father, who died within 3 days, leaving $4m dollars to Alex and the same amount to each of his.other 3 children.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Well it is a coincidence that Alex heard his father was going into a hospice that day in a phone call, while she was actually confronting him at work with the evidence. Then, that evening, Maggie and Paul were shot and he visited his father, who died within 3 days, leaving $4m dollars to Alex and the same amount to each of his.other 3 children.

No one says this and no one looks at it out there, NO ONE but from the beginning the death of 'Alex's father was part of this is too much for me, makes no sense. At first flush, just learning a thing about Alex Murdaugh. His wife, his son AND then his dad??? And my mind went money, money, money. This is before I knew of his history or the Beach case, the other stuff, it was on first hearing of this at all.

But it's been said back then and still is that dad was natural causes. Okay, yeah. But wow the timing, when all was going down and he needed money, needed to try to fix a lot, etc. I think it entirely possible Alex hastened dad's death but I also can see why they haven't went down that road. There was enough to do and look into. It will likely never be looked at or talked but it is a thought I will always hold and wonder about. The timing was uncanny. And of course brought sympathy, distraction and money.

 

[Tresir]

I just cannot believe this.

MSN

“I’m flabbergasted that she is expressing her personal opinion that he murdered his wife and son and had help. I mean this is the first I’ve heard of that, and it’s shocking,” he continued.

During an appearance on “Dan Abrams Live,” Griffin reacted to Hill’s claims in new episodes of Netflix’s “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” that dropped last week.

In the docuseries, Hill suggests that she thinks Murdaugh may have had help with the murders of his wife and youngest son.

“I do think Alex pulled the trigger, and then I think he had help with cleaning up everything that needed cleaning up,” Hill said in the series. “And what we had left was the crime scene that took us to the trial.”

Related video: Embattled Murdaugh Clerk of Court Featured in Netflix Series (Court TV)
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Griffin appeared to be surprised that an officer of the court would openly share what she thought about the case.

“It’s just one more shocking revelation in a series of things that we’ve learned since the trial,” Griffin said.

Griffin and the rest of Murdaugh’s legal team are appealing the convicted murderer’s conviction based on what they call “unprecedented” actions by Hill. She is accused by Murdaugh’s team of telling jurors to not be “misled” or “fooled” by his testimony.

“The things that she is alleged to have done are crimes. I mean, they are crimes under the South Carolina code of laws. So, if she did what the jurors reported she did, she’s in legal jeopardy as much as Alex Murdaugh is in legal jeopardy,” Griffin said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I just cannot believe this.

MSN

“I’m flabbergasted that she is expressing her personal opinion that he murdered his wife and son and had help. I mean this is the first I’ve heard of that, and it’s shocking,” he continued.

During an appearance on “Dan Abrams Live,” Griffin reacted to Hill’s claims in new episodes of Netflix’s “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” that dropped last week.

In the docuseries, Hill suggests that she thinks Murdaugh may have had help with the murders of his wife and youngest son.

“I do think Alex pulled the trigger, and then I think he had help with cleaning up everything that needed cleaning up,” Hill said in the series. “And what we had left was the crime scene that took us to the trial.”

Related video: Embattled Murdaugh Clerk of Court Featured in Netflix Series (Court TV)
The subject matter of those communications was the credibility of
Loaded: 14.01%


Play
Current Time 0:21
/
Duration 9:16

Captions
Fullscreen

Court TV
Embattled Murdaugh Clerk of Court Featured in Netflix Series
Unmute
View on Watch

Griffin appeared to be surprised that an officer of the court would openly share what she thought about the case.

“It’s just one more shocking revelation in a series of things that we’ve learned since the trial,” Griffin said.

Griffin and the rest of Murdaugh’s legal team are appealing the convicted murderer’s conviction based on what they call “unprecedented” actions by Hill. She is accused by Murdaugh’s team of telling jurors to not be “misled” or “fooled” by his testimony.

“The things that she is alleged to have done are crimes. I mean, they are crimes under the South Carolina code of laws. So, if she did what the jurors reported she did, she’s in legal jeopardy as much as Alex Murdaugh is in legal jeopardy,” Griffin said.

Rebecca Hill doesn't have a great look right now. If she wanted to be noticed I guess she's reached that goal. Sadly they all seem like players in a Low Country saga that care less about the victims than saving themselves or gaining their own spot in this.

The timing here again is uncanny. In the MSN link you shared, Griff said at least three times in the first paragraphs of it that he had no idea of any of this and was flabbergasted. He said it too much and too ofen.

It is arguable this did not air until all was over but it still is not a good look for "Miss Becky".

I think most players there are trying to save themselves or maintain or get their power back and others are trying to get in the spotlight. And all still at the expense of the victims and the other people who live there in this corrupt little area that though little, has corruption that reaches and branches out a whole lot further.

After the case was over, even Judge Newman talked. Griff states that even pending appeals after, Becky Hill should not have, that that is an active case still. I don't think it likely is until a process is opened but I sure don't know, and maybe not even then.

It would all be laughable and quite a mockery of idiots if not for the fact this is real life with real victims. Paul and Maggie don't make for the most innocent of victims but the countless others do and Paul and Maggie are still victims.

I'm not a fan of Mizzz Becky and her choices but the MIB are as dishonest and unethical as they come and I don't believe Griff's statements here. I think they knew full well. the more that comes, and the timing, the more I am convinced. And even more than that, I'm not convinced this wasn't all set up but that one I am leaving open...

 

[Tresir]

I don't believe they knew what went on with the clerk and in the jury room except for the egg juror incident. Then I believe they started to find out, probably by contacting some jurors. Then they heard about the book deal at some point so when did it actually first come out? Officially it was 1st August IIRC but maybe it had launched earlier online. I believe it was self published, but not sure.

The other thing that I find strange is that Maggie's estate was valued at ~ $4m. (Included the Edisto Beach House, which I believe was hers already, and Moselle, which Alex sold to her for $1.) Now I hear that Alex was left ~$4m by his father so that is $8m altogether that he would have from both of their deaths, which happened 3 days apart. $8m is the amount that he swindled and stole from clients so now he has enough money to pay them out right?

Just another weird coincidence in all this tragedy? Or planning?

 

[GrandmaBear]

I don't believe they knew what went on with the clerk and in the jury room except for the egg juror incident. Then I believe they started to find out, probably by contacting some jurors. Then they heard about the book deal at some point so when did it actually first come out? Officially it was 1st August IIRC but maybe it had launched earlier online. I believe it was self published, but not sure.

The other thing that I find strange is that Maggie's estate was valued at ~ $4m. (Included the Edisto Beach House, which I believe was hers already, and Moselle, which Alex sold to her for $1.) Now I hear that Alex was left ~$4m by his father so that is $8m altogether that he would have from both of their deaths, which happened 3 days apart. $8m is the amount that he swindled and stole from clients so now he has enough money to pay them out right?

Just another weird coincidence in all this tragedy? Or planning?

It was self published. Her and her partner whose wife she magically met during the trial put up some of their own money after they co-wrote it so to speak. I know you don't like to watch video but you miss a lot with key players on some of them and I don't mean news video. STS had her co writer on more than once. You will NEVER get this stuff in written docs and news articles. There are some GOOD ones. They also have the attorney representing the Murdaugh victims on regularly, Eric Bland. I used to be like you, no videos, and just docs and articles but man if you find the worthy ones, it is worth it.

The 4 mill plus 4 mill equaling 8 mill he needed is NOTABLE. I didn't know that. I do know before anyone hardly knew of this case and the first hint of any of it I saw that I thought his dad dying just after was too much. THREE family members but in early days it kept being said in the news that dad's death was expected, he had been heading there BUT fast enough for Alex? Who the world was about to tumble down on? Well maybe not the world but his friends, partners, his world find out that Alex Murdaugh was a liar and a slime? His judges. Yes, HIS. Etc.

Wasn't his story that he went to see dad the night of the murders? We know he went to mom's after at least...

Anyhow 4+4=8 mill. Interesting. It just adds to what I thought from day one. MONEY. I didn't know then a thing about him, any cases, not the Beach thing, nothing. I just saw he found his son and wife and then his dad died and my brain went three family members, notable person, it is MONEY. Or life insurance/money/inheritance, etc. Something on that order. That was even before a thread here I think. Scott Reisch was one of the few who brought the case up or it may well have went into obscurity on the net and that local paper with a brave soul deserves a ton of credit too. Bringing out the corruption and being a voice for those who don't dare risk it for the power this family/man had.

It is still that way. It is going on now. They are showing it, Poot threatened jurors they need a lawyer. He somewhat threatened Judge Newman.

This is deep. Ties and connections run up the ladder or things that they hold over others of importance.

It is disgusting. And I don't know if Becky Hill is a part of an actual smarter than an Alex plan (meaning contrived by an atty or crony of Alex because he isn't smart, he only got away with things through the years by power, clout and name and this would take someone who could think at least two or three steps ahead) OR if she is just an idiot in her own right. If she is an idiot in her own right then I honestly think they may have played her like a fiddle. That would take another post another day as to what I mean. Finally, I have to wonder about the jurors or at leas one or more of them and about Alex and his team. I would consider it far fetched in almost any case but not this one re jury tampering and I don't mean by the Clerk, I mean by the defense. Of course it could have been a combo...

Do we know how long Becky Hill has been Clerk? If we have ever heard, I forget. What were her relationships like over the years with these men? And with "his" judges?

I don't know and I kind of jumped off your post... I'll keep saying that this all seems timed and not just some of it, we learn something new like now Hill on Netflix and the timing of this coming out yet again just works so perfectly for them to add more punch to it all... I'm not a believer in too many coincidences...